Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

Super Bonus EOY Episode! Solo-401k, Opportunities and Systems over Goals

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

OK, we lied. We told you there would not be an episode of Business Brain this week, but here we are with a bonus end-of-year episode! Listen in as we ...

Two Buck Chuck and ChatGPT

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How did Fred Franzia create a $1.99 bottle of wine that would sell over a billion bottles? How does Two Buck Chuck make a profit, and what tactics can...

Areas of Expertise + Is This Info Helpful?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do we know?  Join us as we discuss how some small businesses shift into high gear and take on tens or hundreds of millions in venture capital in...

Hobby Business Pitfalls and Selling Your Company

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean start the show by answering a listener question about the pros and cons of turning your hobby into a business...

Building a Peer Group, Safety Nets and Hiring Your First Employee

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we discuss the power of an entrepreneurial peer group, building a safety net, and hiring your first employee. Listen in to learn more! 00:00...

Listener Q&A - Taking Action to Help a Slowing Business

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our last episode, we shared with you how important it is for Business Brain to engage with our listeners. Some of you answered the call and sent in...

An Accidental System and Increasing Engagement

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week for a unique episode of Business Brain. First, Dave shares his accidental system that has changed his life. Then we jump into a cand...

Algorithms, Family Businesses and Slacking Partners

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for listener questions! Join us for another episode of Business Brain to hear our take on social media algorithms before we jump in to hel...

Working and Succeeding with People You Dislike

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it, not everyone will like you, and you won’t like everyone that you must work with. How do you adjust your Business Brain to change th...

Learning Quickly, Gamification, Iteration, and Mastery

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the single most powerful skill you can develop? According to Dickie Bush, it’s learning quickly. Join us on this episode of Business Brain a...

Can These Habits Transform Your Life?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What habits could you adopt that would transform both your personal and business life? Join Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as we discuss habit recomme...

What is the Best Age to Start a Business?

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Too Old to Start a Business? Think Again If you think youth is a prerequisite to starting a company, think again. According to a recent study by the C...

Employee Communication Best Practices

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week on Business Brain as we dive deeply into different communication methods with your employees. Find out what works, what doesn’t, a...

Avoiding Employee Burnout

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your employees are your business’s greatest asset. How can you ensure they your team is energized and excited about the work they do? What methods a...

Find a Mentor, Employee Chatter, and Festivus Employee Meetings

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a grab-bag of topics today on Business Brain! Listen in to hear about the importance of finding a good mentor, why your employees will always s...

What is a Portfolio Life?

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Would you invest all your money in one stock? If the answer is no, why would you invest all your efforts into one company, one side hustle, and one ca...

Principles of Managing Reality

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us today on Business Brain as we discover and explore Ray Dalio’s Principles for success. Dave and Shannon will help you start building the Fac...

Why Creatives Need a Business Brain

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We see more and more automation entering the workforce to take over many blue- and white-collar jobs. One area that we think will always be handled by...

The Business of Music

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every musician is a small business owner, and this week we have Paul Kent from Gig Gab — The Show for Working Musicians — join us for a crossover...

Reputation Management - Before and After a Disaster

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you own a business, everything is public. Or at least you should consider that it could be. Your emails, Slack posts, phone calls, and even in-pe...

Politics in Business and the Importance of Downtime

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us today on Business Brain as we discuss the pros and cons of including politics in your business and the importance of stepping away and getting...

Interview with Gary Arndt of the Everything Everywhere Podcast

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Covid-19 lockdowns created headaches for many business owners and created opportunities for others. Gary Arndt, the host of the Everything Everywh...

Business Brain is Born and Listener Questions – Business Brain 390

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have been using the term Business Brain frequently on The Small Business Show since it encapsulates so much of how we want you to think about not j...

How to Handle Layoffs

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second show in our series about hiring right and handling layoffs. Our Business Brain tells us that our employees are the most important a...

Hiring Tips and When Layoffs Become a Reality, Part 1

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We are entering an interesting time when it comes to employees. You may be struggling to find enough people to fill certain roles while considering la...

Developing Revenue Stacks

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have talked about the idea of a Revenue Stack a number of times on The Small Business Show. Episode 115 back in 2017 dived deeper into the concept....

How to Finance Anything – AKA How to Fund Your Business

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It takes money to make money, right? Whether you are just getting started or you have been in business for years, you are going to need access to capi...

Why YOU Should NOT Start a Business

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For 7 years we have been encouraging you to start a Small Business. Along the way, we have shared countless stories of success and provided you with t...

Surviving and Thriving During a Downturn

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You might have noticed that the economy is a little crazy right now. Fuel prices are skyrocketing, the stock market is plummeting, and inflation is at...

Cutting Costs While Preserving Value

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The future is uncertain. Are we headed for a recession as the Fed works to tame inflation by increasing interest rates? Will fuel prices come down or ...

Managing Employee Mistakes - Carrot or Stick?

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone screws up. How can you minimize mistakes while building confidence in your employees? How many times do you let someone mess up before you ha...

Creative Methods to Recruit and Retain Employees

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a nationwide shortage of workers and attracting the best talent can be challenging. How do you make your Small Business stand out among othe...

A Million Dollar Side Hustle and the All Powerful Email Newsletter

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for episode 380 of The Small Business Show to get an update on Shannon’s experiment to create a company just using his phone – he just hit...

Buying out a Partner and Turning Your Employer into a Customer

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best way to buy out your business partner when you don’t have the cash? How do you convert your side-hustle to a full-time business AND...

Creating Career Paths for your Employees Part 2

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in for our second episode in a series and learn how developing career paths for your employees will help your business become stronger and more...

Elon Musk, Julia Child and Part 1 of Career Paths

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Want to keep your best employees from leaving your company? By giving them a clear path to advance within your Small Business not only will your emplo...

The Superpower of Compartmentalizing Your Thoughts

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Running your Small Business can seem overwhelming at times. There are a thousand things going on that require your attention and hundreds of decisions...

Transparency for Fun and Profit

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Being Transparent in your Small Business can be a key tool to gaining customers, attracting the best talent, and building your personal brand. Make tr...

Defined Benefit Plans and Taking the Employees Perspective

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a fresh-squeezed edition of the Small Business Show as we dive into a grab back of topics today including Defined Benefit Plans that can h...

The Problem with Giving Employees What They Want

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Small Business owners want happy and productive employees. Can you get those types of employees by giving them everything they say they want? Do your ...

Delegating for Success

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You can’t do it all. As Small Business owners, we may have started out taking on every role and doing all the work but the only way we can build a s...

What is Decoy Pricing and how can your Small Business use it?

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have done a few episodes recently about how to manage cost increases and how to raise your prices. Dave recently came across the concept of Decoy P...

Using Fear as a Compass

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our favorite sayings on The Small Business Show is “Don’t make fear-based decisions” – Brian Friss from Digistor But we want to take an...

How to Create Meetings that Matter

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You may not be fond of meetings at your Small Business, but they can be productive and serve a purpose. Today your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilto...

Creating a Culture Focused on Results

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The power of focusing on results instead of effort. Join us today as your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean share their experiences with getting yo...

Dissecting the Wordle Business + Developing a Problem Solving Mindset

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a grab bag of topics for episode 367 of The Small Business Show this week! First, we jump into a discussion of Wordle and their business model,...

Managing Your Small Business During a Labor Shortage

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your employees are the life of your business. But what happens when you must operate in a tight labor market with increasing costs? How do you attract...

The Small Business Executive Summary – What it is and why you need it

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a new year and a good time to reflect on how things went for your business in 2021. If your company is structured as a corporation or LLC, you ...

Leadership vs. Management – Can you be good at both?

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Small Business owners are forced to play all kinds of roles in their company. They must be leaders to attract talent and to create a vision for the bu...

Managing Employees of all Ages and Dave Sells a Business

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Small Business owners understand the importance of building a strong team of employees and a company culture that creates a great place to work. But h...

Creating Recurring Revenue Streams for Your Small Business

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you create a subscription or other recurring revenue program based on your existing products or services? Join us today on The Small Business Show...

Stop Admiring Problems and Shift to Embracing Solutions

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Small Business owners are problem solvers. But what happens if you or your team are focused on the problems instead of solutions? Join us today as Dav...

Managing Inflation and How to Raise Your Prices

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everything is more expensive this year. With record-setting inflation hitting all of our wallets, how can Small Business owners manage increasing supp...

Jeremy Butcher Talks Apple Business Essentials

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you using Apple products for your Small business? Listen in this week as we talk with Jeremy Butcher, Enterprise and Education Product Marketing a...

Managing Your Expectations of Other People

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To be a successful Small Business owner, you must embrace accountability. Not just for yourself, but for your employees, contractors, partners, and su...

The Multiple Benefits to Requiring Employees to take Vacation

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Want to find flaws in the systems of your Small Business? Today we discuss the concept of requiring employees to take time off to expose problems that...

Hiring Your First Employee

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your new business is doing great. But, you are doing everything yourself and you need some help. Is it time to hire your first employee? Listen in as ...

The 2021 Thankful Episode

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Although we are living through some crazy times, your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have a lot to be thankful for. Join us today as we share st...

AccountEdge Product Evangelist Todd Salkovitz

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the importance of Accounting and accurate data on the show all the time. Maybe it’s because I am not that great at it and am always lo...

Does the SBA Actually Help Small Businesses? Learning to Coach Your Customers

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for episode 353 of The Small Business Show where we answer the question: What does the Small Business Administration actually do for Small Bus...

Choosing the Right Bank and Overcoming Inflation

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What type of bank should you choose for your Small Business? Should you put all your assets into one bank or use multiple banks? Join us today during ...

Overcoming Supply Chain Issues

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Has the Supply Chain problem impacted your Small Business? Join us today as your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton discuss techniques to minimize S...

Managing Small Business IT Infrastructure

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As Small Business owners, we all know how important it is to keep your technology up and running with minimal downtime. What’s the best way to get s...

Valuing Your Time and the Short & Long Productivity System

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Managing your time as a Small Business owner is a critical part of each day. Join us today as your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton discuss how to...

Choosing Accounting Software and the Best Books and Podcasts for Small Business Owners

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you choose the best accounting software for your Small Business? What’s right for one business may not fit the needs of another. Today on The...

Why and How to Identify Your Primary Customer

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does your business have a Primary Customer? A customer type that you have identified that you focus all your energy and skills trying to make happy? D...

Top 10 Small Business Owner Personality Traits

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What personality traits do successful Small Business owners share? Which traits help Small Business owners to overcome adversity to find success? Join...

EIDL Loans, Accountants and Tapping into the Creativity and Productivity Faucet

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did you participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Impact Disaster Loan (EIDL) program? During our Small Business Show intro...

Google Trends and What's the Best Website for Your Small Business?

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your Small Business needs a website and you need customers to be able to find it. Join us today on The Small Business Show to learn how Google Trends ...

Local SEO Search Optimization and Managing Customer Returns

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Making sure your company surfaces in search results for “near me” searches is critical for local search engine optimization. What local SEO search...

Best Small Business Phone Systems and Credit Card Rewards – Small Business Show 342

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the Best Small Business phone system for your business? Join us this week on The Small Business Show as we discuss how answering your phone c...

Small Business Accounting Secrets and All About Trademarks

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you living a “before-tax” lifestyle? What other accounting secrets are you missing out on that could improve your life while saving money for ...

Small Business Payroll and Creating Impactful Presentations

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best way to take care of your Small Business Payroll? Should you do it yourself or use a service? Join us during the introduction to Epis...

The Best Printer for Small Business and Managing Customer Privacy

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best printer for your Small Business? Multi-function, Inkjet, Laser – we discuss the pros and cons of each printer type with real-world...

PPP Loan Forgiveness and Simplicity In Your Business

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How many steps does it take for a customer to speak to a human at your business? How about placing an order? How easy is it for a return to be process...

Eric Benavides Founder of Backyard Workroom

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having an area for work, exercise, or just to get away is critically important. We have discussed ways to carve out space when working from home, and ...

Managing Hybrid Work Schedules for your Small Business

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you switched to a work from home business model during the pandemic, you may now be working on a plan to get your team back into the office. What’...

Orchid Insanity Founder Dean Hung

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We love getting a chance to talk with business owners that have carved out a successful niche for themselves. Today we’re sitting down with Dean Hun...

Advising a Young Entrepreneur and Gamiotics Check in

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on The Small Business Show we check in with David Carpenter, Founder of Gamiotics and the Seize the Show entertainment group. But first, it’s ...

Roger Volodarsky Founder and CEO of Puffco

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they sit down with Puffco Founder and CEO, Roger Volodarsky. The episode is a master class in buildi...

The Power of Reciprocity

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Giving something of value away to customers before they place an order is a common sales and marketing technique. This reciprocity tactic is a powerfu...

Employee Reviews and What to do When You're Stuck

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best way to manage employee reviews for your team? Should you use an objective, numerical rating system or stick with a more subjective p...

Ownership, Distractions and a LinkedIn Wrap Up

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on The Small Business Show, your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss choosing your ownership and why distractions can be valuable. ...

Why Your Small Business Needs to be on LinkedIn

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Small Business Show, hear why co-host Shannon Jean believes LinkedIn is one of the most underutilized tools for Small Business ...

Tra Williams, Author of Boss Brain

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past 6-seasons on The Small Business Show, we frequently discuss the tactics and actions required to make the jump from Employee to Employer ...

Rebecca Michals, eBay Director of Community and Engagement

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are a Small Business owner selling any kind of product or service, is selling and marketing on eBay part of your long-term strategy? We think i...

Why Your Attitude about Cleaning the Toilet is a Success Indicator

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you willing to do everything to make your Small Business succeed or do find certain tasks “below you”? Join us for this episode of The Small B...

Controlling Your Vernacular and Unconventional Ways to Promote Your Business Story

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton for a discussion about what phrases to avoid in-person and with written communication. Then it’s time...

Howard Tiersky - Business Digital Transformation

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joining us for this episode of The Small Business Show is Howard Tiersky, CEO of FROM, a company that describes itself as a Digital Transformation Age...

Brittany Smith, Cognitive Neuroscientist and Managing Entrepreneur ADHD

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Following up on episode 321 where we questioned if ADHD is a “disorder or super-power” for Small Business owners, we are joined today by Brittany ...

Multimedia Storytelling with Bailey Barnard of Media Stone Creative

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the opportunities of owning a business that we discuss on the show often is being able to create your own story. Molding a powerful narrative a...

Can ADHD be a Super-Power for Small Business Owners?

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having ADHD as a kid is challenging and can be a huge obstacle to being successful in school. There’s no doubt that as parents and educators, we nee...

The Hiring Process: Attracting, Vetting and Interviewing

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they work through the Hiring Process with a new employee for one of Dave’s small businesses, Backb...

Tom Blumenthal - President and CEO of GEARYS Beverly Hills

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not often that we have a guest running a business that has been in operation for over 90-years. A company that may have started small but has g...

Fueling Your Success with the Tears of Naysayers

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As Entrepreneurs and Small Business owners, we often hear these phrases:  That won’t work. If it’s such a good business idea, why hasn’t anyone...

Lloyd Chapman - Founder American Small Business League

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are Small Businesses getting their legally mandated share of government contracts? Lloyd Chapman dug into this issue and was so concerned with the res...

The Luxury of Exhausting Work + Hiring Rock Stars

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they celebrate the 6th anniversary of The Small Business Show! Your hosts then jump into a conversation about t...

Elon Musk: If you need encouragement, don't become an entrepreneur

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When asked recently what encouragement he could provide to a new entrepreneur, Elon Musk replied: “If you need encouragement, don’t become an entr...

Hiring too Slowly and the Concept of Levers

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for more small business therapy on episode 314 of The Small Business Show. We start out with your co-host Dave Hamilton discussing his hir...

Creating an Exit Strategy and Valuing Your Business

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A popular topic on The Small Business Show is getting started – taking action to get your Small Business started so you can begin your journey towar...